生平

胡惟庸出生不详。龙凤元年（1355年）投朱元璋于和州，授元帅府奏差，不久转任宣使，又任宁国县主簿，进升知县，又升吉安府通判，再升湖广行省佥事。吴元年（1367年），任太常寺少卿，再进寺卿。洪武三年（1370年），为中书省参知政事。不久，取代汪广洋任左丞。洪武六年（1373年）正月，右丞相汪广洋被贬为广东行省参政。明太祖因丞相人选难觅，所以很长一段时间不设丞相。胡惟庸于是独专中书省事务。七月，任右丞相，不久，升任左丞相，汪广洋又被任为右丞相。

自从杨宪被杀后，明太祖认为胡惟庸有才干，很宠信他。胡惟庸也自觉奋进，曾以遇事小心谨慎博得明太祖欢心，进一步获得明太祖的宠信。他为此当了多年独相，生杀废黜大事，有的不报告明太祖便径直执行。内外各部门的奏章，他都先拿来看，凡是陷害自己的，便扣下不上呈。各方面热衷功名之徒，以及失去了职位的功臣武夫，竞相奔走于其门，贿送金帛、名马、玩好之物，不可胜计。徐达对他极其厌恶，密报明太祖；胡惟庸于是诱惑徐达的守门人福寿谋害徐达，但被福寿揭发。御史中丞刘基也曾说过他的短处，认为胡好比劣马，叫它驾车，必然会翻车坏事。后来刘基生病，明太祖派胡惟庸带医生探视，胡惟庸便对刘基下毒。刘基死后，他更加无所顾忌。胡惟庸将哥哥的女儿嫁太师李善长的侄子李佑为妻。学士吴伯宗弹劾胡惟庸，差点大祸临头。此后，他权势更盛。在他定远老家的井中，突然生出石笋，出水数尺深，献媚的人争相说这是祥瑞之兆。他们还说胡惟庸祖父三代的坟墓上，晚上都有火光，照亮夜空。胡惟庸更加高兴和自负，从此有了异心。

吉安侯陆仲亨从陕西回朝，擅自乘坐驿车。明太祖大怒，责骂他说：「中原在战乱之后，人民刚刚复业，驿站买马非常艰难。如果大家都像你这样，人民就是将子女全部卖掉，也不能供给。」责令他到代县捕盗贼。平凉侯费聚奉命安抚苏州军民，整天沉溺酒色。明太祖大怒，责令他往西北去招降蒙古，他无功而返，明太祖又严厉斥责他。两人都非常害怕。胡惟庸便暗中对两人威逼利诱。两人一向愚勇，见胡惟庸正专权用事，便与他秘密往来。两人曾到胡惟庸家饮酒，酒酣时，胡惟庸屏退左右，对他俩说：「我等所干的事多不合法，一旦被发觉将怎么办？」两人更加惶恐。胡惟庸于是将自己的主意告诉了他们，令他们在外面收集兵马。

胡惟庸又曾与陈宁坐在中书省中，阅览天下兵马簿籍，令都督毛骧将卫士刘遇贤和亡命之徒魏文进收为心腹。胡惟庸令太仆寺丞李存义暗中游说李善长。李善长年纪已老，不能坚决拒绝，开始不同意，后来便依违其间了。胡惟庸更加以为事情可以成功，于是派明州卫指挥林贤出海招引倭寇，与他们约定日期相会。又派元旧臣封绩致书元朝，向元朝嗣君称臣，请求出兵做外应。这些事都还没有发出。正好胡惟庸的儿子坐马车奔驰过市，坠死于车下，胡惟庸将驾车的人杀死。明太祖大怒，命他偿命。胡惟庸请求用金帛补偿驾车人家，明太祖不许。胡惟庸害怕了，便与御史大夫陈宁、中丞涂节等人图谋起事，密告四方以及依从于自己的武臣。

洪武十二年（1379年）九月，占城国入贡，胡惟庸等人不报告明太祖。宦官出来见到了，便进宫奏告明太祖。明太祖大怒，下敕令责备中书省臣。胡惟庸和汪广洋叩头谢罪，但暗暗地将罪过归咎于礼部，礼部大臣又归咎于中书省。明太祖更加愤怒，将各臣僚全部关押起来，究问为首主持的人。不久，赐汪广洋死，汪广洋的妾陈氏为他陪死。皇上问知陈氏乃是被入官的陈知县的女儿，大怒说：「被没入官的妇女，只给功臣家。文臣怎么得到？」便颁下敕令命法司调查。于是胡惟庸以及六部属官都应当被判罪。第二年正月，涂节便将祸变上报，告发胡惟庸。御史中丞商暠当时被贬为中书省吏，也告发了胡惟庸的阴谋。明太祖大怒，下令廷臣轮番讯问，词语连及陈宁、涂节。廷臣说：「涂节本来参预阴谋，见事情不成，这才将变乱上告，不可不杀。」于是诛杀胡惟庸、陈宁和涂节，夷胡惟庸三族，史称「胡惟庸案」。

明太祖借胡惟庸案对文武功臣、官员大开杀戒，为免去君权被相权架空的可能性，亦一并废除了中书省和相职。从此相权被剥夺，中国政治制度进一步走向君主专制。

Biography

Hu was born in Dingyuan, Haozhou (; now a part of Chuzhou, Anhui province). In 1363 Hu contributed a large number of warships to Zhu Yuanzhang to use for battle with Chen Youliang. Li Shanchang, chief of warship production, was pleased with Hu and recommended Hu to Zhu Yuanzhang. Li was part of an anti-corruption campaign to eliminate political opponents of Zhu. In the end, both Li and Hu were executed by the Zhu emperor for attempting to usurp the throne.

Career

In the Hongwu Emperor's elimination of the traditional offices of grand councilor, the primary impetus was Hu Weiyong's alleged attempt to usurp the throne. Hu was the Senior Grand Councilor and a capable administrator; however, over the years, the magnitude of his powers as well as involvement in several political scandals eroded the paranoid emperor's trust in him. Finally, in 1380, the Hongwu Emperor had Hu and his entire family arrested and executed on charges of treason. Using this as an opportunity to purge his government, the Hongwu Emperor also ordered the execution of countless other officials, as well as their families, for associating with Hu. The purge lasted over a decade and resulted in more than 30,000 executions.

Some accounts narrate the dubious legends about Hu. It was said that some stalagmites emerged from the water of well, which located at the yard of his former residence. Moreover, the tombs of his ancestors were glowed in the night. While he seemed to preened himself on that and conspired to coups.

Death

Chancellor Hu Weiyong arrogated all authority to himself and accepted bribes, which stirred the wrath of other officers and the people. In 1380, a subordinate of Hu Weiyong reported to the Hongwu Emperor (Zhu Yuanzhang) that Hu Weiyong met with the envoy of another country secretly, attempting to rebel. Four days later Zhu executed Hu Weiyong. The emperor soon abolished the Chancellery of China, taking over direct responsibility of the Three Departments and Six Ministries. The Grand Secretariat later assumed responsibility for aiding the emperor in managing the state.

Together with the other members of his clique, their offences were compiled a book tilted Zhaoshi Jiandang Lu (;The Record to Proclaim the Treacherous Clique), at the behest of the emperor.